Tucson

When we began this blog, Steve and I considered how to work with news-of-the-day stuff.  We want to be careful about this.  Our intent has been to focus on what we think we’re learning about leadership.   We believe this requires us to maintain an objective distance from hot topics.  We understand that overlaying our thinking on top of highly divisive popular conflict might impair the thoughtful rational contemplation needed to discern, consider and work with the Energy Management Model.  This stuff is, at base, about the individual’s choice to react to emotional hijacking with rational detachment.  Points of view are less important than responses to them. [ We wrote a newsletter piece during the 2008 presidential election comparing levels of observable non-anxious behavior between the candidates. One reader came down hard on us for our “partisanship”.]

Yet, this week, I am compelled to write something about the violence in Tuscon.

We are seeing the kinds of reactions to this awful event which illustrate how utterly toxic individuals and groups can become when seduced, influenced, and even led by emotional immaturity.  Specifically, we observe hyper-defensiveness.  Our “leaders” seem unwilling to engage in any meaningful dialogue about why such violence plagues us.  And, we are besieged with media coverage about those who are in a panic to absolve themselves of any small portion of responsibility when “crazy” happens.  While some call for more “civility”, I have heard no one ask him (or her) self  first, then others, to develop the maturity which civility requires.

 Hyper-defensiveness.  Blame displacement.  Red flags of emotional immaturity.

It’s an irony.  Those repressed emotional maturity lack the maturity to know.

There’s a whole lot of talk.  There’s very little or no quiet reflection.  Until that equation is reversed, we’re doomed to more of the same.

Explore posts in the same categories: Uncategorized